Mark West Compass

Lots of meetings and talk going on in our community regarding Wikiup Commons.
Kristin Maharg Suarez presented the Community Soil Foundation and some of its current programs to the Mark West Citizens Advisory Council, explaining some of their involvement with the fire recovery process and Wikiup Commons.
This is their fourth year growing in Larkfield and they supplied many trees to the people whose lots and homes burned. They also served the families, helping with contamination and erosion control and started a program called Healthy Habitats. 
The most recent project is at Wikiup Commons, working with the Banke/Jackson family and some interested community members to give a conceptual design for the 16-acre park site, balancing the health of the land and need of the community.
There is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the community to have access to this land, being donated by the Banke/Jackson family, as a park for all of Mark West to use. Many organizations and community members are working together, exploring possibilities of a few different entities, one of which could, hopefully, take possession of this 16-acre parcel. 
They are also all working together to acquire large scale funding for the restoration of Mark West Creek. Clean up and restoration would be a major part of this project and many organizations would be involved in it. 
Along with the restoration project, they are exploring funding sources to build a pedestrian bridge, creating an egress and safer walking to schools, etc. for the children in Wikiup and possible additional emergency services access.
Community Soils is working with the community, Sonoma County Parks, creek restoration organizations and inviting the Mark West Citizens Advisory Council to participate, hoping to put the community stamp on the project. 
For details, go to Facebook, Community Soil Foundation or http://www.communitysoil.org or kr*****@co***********.org. 
Aggie Maggio is a local Realtor and member of the Mark West Chamber of Commerce.  She can be reached at Ag*********@ic****.com